title: Space mutagenesis of genetically engineered bacteria expressing recombinant human interferon α1b and screening of higher yielding strains.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the space mutagenesis of genetically engineered bacteria expressing recombinant human interferon α1b. The genetically engineered bacteria expressing the recombinant interferon α1b were sent into outer space on the Chinese Shenzhou VIII spacecraft. After the 17 day space flight, mutant strains that highly expressed the target gene were identified. After a series of screening of spaceflight-treated bacteria and the quantitative comparison of the mutant strains and original strain, we found five strains that showed a significantly higher production of target proteins, compared with the original strain. Our results support the notion that the outer space environment has unique effects on the mutation breeding of microorganisms, including genetically engineered strains. Mutant strains that highly express the target protein could be obtained through spaceflight-induced mutagenesis.
authors.affiliation: Nanlou Respiratory Diseases Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Changting
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jinyi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiangqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yinghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: De
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Longxiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*; D016296:Mutagenesis; D030781:Organisms, Genetically Modified; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013026:Space Flight; D018531:Spacecraft; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins